107 Selden St., Berlin, Connecticut 06037

This Arbor Day Remember to “Plan Before You Plant”
Planting the right trees near power lines can help reduce outages

BERLIN, Conn. (April 23, 2013) – Spring has finally arrived and across Connecticut, flowers are beginning to bloom, trees are beginning to blossom, and we’re reminded of the beauty of this state’s wildlife. Arbor Day, this Friday, April 26, is a great day to celebrate nature by planting a new tree. While trees are part of what make Connecticut’s landscape so appealing, they are also the number one cause of power outages. That’s why Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) encourages customers to “Plan Before You Plant.”

"Arbor Day is a great time to plant a tree and we want to make sure our customers think about how those trees may someday affect the reliability of their electric service," said Dave Goodson, CL&P’s manager of Vegetation Management. “Planting the right size and type of tree in the right place can help reduce the risk of a future tree-related power outage.”

When planting trees near roadside power lines, CL&P recommends low-growing trees such as crabapple and dogwood. Medium-sized trees, such as arborvitae and flowering cherry, can be planted between 15 and 30 feet from the power lines. Large-growing trees, such as oak, maple and pine trees, should be planted farthest away from power lines – at least 30 feet.

Every year, CL&P spends tens of millions of dollars on its vegetation management program, trimming trees along power lines, removing trees that pose a threat to the system, and controlling vines that grow up poles and wires. This year, CL&P will trim trees along 4,420 miles of its distribution system in the 149 cities and towns the company serves.

CL&P’s team of licensed arborists oversees this work, which is done in accordance with professional standards established by the American National Standards Institute and the International Society of Arboriculture to ensure minimal injury and consideration of the individual characteristics (size, shape, form and condition) of each tree.

To learn more about CL&P’s tree trimming program and how to plan before you plant, visit www.cl-p.com/Home/AboutCLP/Tree_Trimming___Vegetation_Management.